Insulated railroad tie and rail-fastening means therefor



P. J. DUNN.

INSULATED RAILROAD TIE AND RAIL FASTENING MEANS THERFOR.

APPLICATION FILEDAIUNE 4,1921.

Patented Feb. 21, 1922..

A 2 SHEETS-sum1.

l P. I. DUNN. INSULATED RAILROAD TIE ANDRAILFA'STENING MEANS THEBEFOH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4 1921.`

Patented 1161.21, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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Application lfiieafcrum 4,

To all 'whom t may concern:

citizen of the United States, residing atfHolland, in the county of VLucas and Statey of- Ohio have invented certain nev.7 .and useful improvements y1n Insulated RailroadTies and Rail-Fastening Means Therefor, of

which the following isA a specification, refer'-. ence being had to the accompanying drawsV ings. i

cross ties is relatively short, hence necessi tating the general repair of l(railroads, as Well as the renewal of ties now and then, as some ties decay sooner than others. There-4 fore the purpose lof the present 'invention isto provide an improved glass tie, suitably, reinforced, and includ-ing shock absorbers for the rails and rail fastening devices, thereby prolonging the lifeof railroads, andi ance with theinvention.

lessening the repairs to their ad.

Another purpose consists in vthe-provision of avlass tie for. railroads actino' as insulation for the rails, and not only'to provide a practical' tie of this character, but also providing a construction particularly adapt-V ed for use in connection With elec rical signaling systems. Still another purpose isthe provision of a tie of this general character, which cantions, the rails chatter `in a :short vfhile,j

thereby rendering traveling very unco1nfortable and annoying tothe patrons of thel road, hence the provision of the shock absorbers.

A further purpose is to provide depres sions on the glass tie for thereception of the shock absorbers, which are designed to be constructed of ivoodtreated with creo-v sote or Sonie other suitable material for the preservation of the Wood, andalso in order that the wood may act as a better shock absorber than any otherinaterial, though it is obvious that any other suitable libre may ybe used.

Additionally, the invention ainisftoiprovide a tie including wire fabric reinforcing; extending through the glass tie,vin combination with suitable passages formed 'spammen `of rafters Patent; patented Feb, ,21, 1922,

1921. serial no. annee. y

through the tie, for the reception of rail Be it known that I, PATRICK JQDUNN, a'

fastening members, and keys for holding the 'members `anchored in thevtie, for the purpose of holding the rails inposition. Vhile the design and construction at present'llustrated and set forth are deemedy preferable, it islobvious that as a result'of a reduction of the inventionv to a more prac-l tical forrn for 'commercial purposes, the ina e Y, l. ventio'n may bey 'susceptible `of changes,ran`d. It is Well known that the life of-ivoo'denf the lrightv to these changes lis claimed,-prov` after set forth, shown in' thei drawings and;

claimed; I

In the ldrawings 1- y Figure l is a View inperspective of the improved Olass tie rconstructed vin accord-4 V;v Figure 2 is a longitudinal' sectional view on line2-2 of Figure l. o f

Figure 3 is across sectional 'view on 'line of Figure 2.' v'Figure viewV of the tie on line 44-4' of Figurel, showing in dotted lines' the form of lthe lower part of the openings, which receive the anchoring members for the rail.' fastoners. e

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional .view through aA suitable mold, showingthe glass tie molded' therein, rwith fabric reinforcing;V

AFigure 6 is across sectional View onY line 6 6 of Figure 5. Ik Figure 's a detail view of one of the 1 anchoring Arods 11.

wedge keys 20.

Figure9 is a rail retaining platesvlt. 1,

Referring tothe drawings, l4 designates `the body of theuimproved glass tie, which the proper WireY detaily view ofV one .of the c l is a khorizontal sectional ,plan

, Y c fc5. frigure -8 is a detail :view ofi one of the may be. any suitable length, Width or thiclry ness, and molded transversely of the tie is a plurality ofv tubes or sleeves-Which arepar-v ticularly employed'ffor reinforcing-the tie'.

These'sleeves or tubes 2 extend'horizontally,

andare located so as not to" contact with the wire fabric reinforcing-.3, which is ernplurality of sections, so as te not only reinforce the tie generally, but also to withstand the strain centrally on the tie. lt is to be noted that these sections of wire fabric reinforcing vare located mostly near the lower portion of the tie, where'the tie must withstand or resist the greatest strain.

ln constructing thev tie the upper surface thereof is provided with suitable depressions d, which have their opposite side walls 5 rf-shaped, for the reception of the shock absorbing blocks 6, which are preferably constructed of wood., though it is obvious that any other suitable'material may be used. These shock absorbing blocks are thoroughly ytreated with creosote or any other suitable material, which will act to insure the preservation of the blocks. Theshock absorbing blocks are shaped correspondingly to the depressions, so thatv when they are dropped into place in the depressions,the end 'V- shaped walls of the depressions will act to prevent movement of the blocks, not only laterally of the rails, but also in the direction of the rails. Obviously the weight of the rails retainsrthe `blocks in place.

n At diagonally opposite Vpositions relatively to the depressions 4?, the tie is provided with openings or Y through the tie; rhese passages or openings 7 are in pairs, one pair adjacent each end of the tie, and it will be noted that the passages or openings of each pair are diagonally o*l posite each other. The upper-and lower ends of the passages or openings are open, and the lower portions of the openings or passages have semi-circular undercut port-ions 8, the walls 9 of which constitute shoulders, to

Y be engaged by offset lugs 10 on the lower ends of anchoring rods 11, which are-V designed for holding rail fastening plates in position. rlhe openings or passages are similar in cross sectional shape to key holes. @ne portion of each passage or opening` is substantially cylindrical, while the other part is rectangular, as will be seen .in the horizontal sectional. plan view.

The rail fastener' retaining rods may be auysuitable length according to the height of the tie, and each comprises an elongated shank 12, with a rectangular head1?) on its upper end, to be engaged by a wrench (not shown). ln fact the wrench may engage the head, so as to turn the anchoring member a half turn, so as to cause the lug 10 of the anchor to engage the shoulder 9. The-upper ends of the shanks of the anchoring members pass through rail retaining plates 14:. These plates have bent portions 15 upwardly offset to overlie the opposite sides of-'the base 16. Nuts 17 are threaded upon the upper ends of the shanks of the anchoring members in order to hold the plates 14 in position. The anchors'are first lowered or passed through the openings or passages, the cylinpassaoes 7 extendino'verticall drical portions of the shanks being passed downwardly through the cylindrical parts of the openings or. passages, with the lugs 10 passing through the rectangular portions. After the anchoring members are thus positioned, a wrench (not shown) is applied to the rectangular heads 13, whereupon the anchors are given a half turn, which will cause the 'lugs 10 to assume positions under the shoulders 9. The anchoring members will remain in place, and hold the plates 14 in such wise that their bent portions 15 will o verlie t-he bases of the rails. Suitable cotter pins 18 engage through the upper extremities of the VShanks, immediately above the nuts 17, thereby preventing,accidental removal of the nuts. rlfhe Shanks of the anchoring members at points immediately below the plates 11i arerprovided with elongated grooves 19, which receive the wedge keys 20. The wedge keys may be made of any suitable material, such as metal, and are shaped in order to conform to the rectangular portions of the passages or openings 7. rlhe wedge keys 20 have one edgey vertically disposed, while the other is inclined as shown at`21, to correspond and conform to the in-V clined walls 22 of the rectangular vertica portions. of the openings or passages 7. The upper end-edges of the wedge keys'lhave enlargements 23, the ends of which act as handles for the mechanic, in applying the keys to the passages or openings. The enlargements 23 with vtheir undercut edges, enable the workman or mechanic to easily extract the wedge keys. The vertical edges of the wedge keys engage said grooves 19 of the shanks of the anchoring members, acting to force them in place, and also acting` to prevent rotary movement of the anchors.

fis previously stated most of the wire fabric reinforcing is located near the bottom of the tie, in order to withstand theV greatest amount of stress. More than one opening 25 is provided for the reception of the Cotter keys 18, in order -to permit the taking up of slack or looseness of play between the several parts. The purpose for allowing the openings or passages V7 to be formed through the entire tie, is to permitv any moisture whatever to vdrain'off very quickly.

The tie is designed to be corrugated on its side and bottom faces, so as to more or less reinforce the tie.

The lower parts of the openings or passages 7 formed .in the tie have their lower ends smaller than the lower ends of the anchoring members, thereby preventing the anchoring members from dropping through, whenrthey are inserted in place, The anchoring' members are also prevented -from dropping through, owing to the cylindrical portions of the openings or passages 7 belng out of alignment with the lower ends of said passages or openings.

s previously stated the tubes vor sleeves 2 are incased or embedded' in the tie between the opposed wallsy of the sheet metal rein-i forcing trough .40, and :passing through the Y tubesfor sleeves 2 are rods, stays or 're1n-y forcing bolts'fl, vwhich alsofpassthroughl the opposite walls offthesheet metal reinforcing trough. rI`he ends offtheserods or stay bolts .are swaged in order to provide heads 112, in order/to reinforce the sides of the sheet metal reinforcing. The opposite sides ofthe sheet metal reinforcing 'are also' provided with a plurality of openings lor perforations 43, through which the molten` material as it is poured in the mold is allowed to flow, so as to 'completelyincase or embed the sheetv metal reinforcing inv pos i`v tion. The sheet meta-l reinforcingma'y be supported inthe mold in ner (not shown). 1 'f' In order to construct the tie'as made of,K4

glass suitably reinforced with Lwirefabric, and provided Awith the vertical passages or.

. openings 7 it is the'aim to provide awsuitable mold, such as shownin Figure 5, com-- openings 7 and connectedto the lower ends of the cores 32, by means of a tongue and' groove joint 31 are lateral extensions 31, which form the undercut'portions', and also the shoulders 9. Obviously when-the mold is taken apart, the top 28 is first removed, and since the cores 82 are vcarried by the V top, they are likewise withdrawn from the glass forming the tie. When these cores arewithdrawn, they automatically become detached from the extensions 81, which may" thenbe removed from the openings or passages, by turning-them lengthwise. Unless extensions of the cores 32 are made in seve eral or a plurality of parts, in this manner, there will be no way of forming the lower parts of the openings or passages 7, owing to lthe formation'of the'shoulders. In' fact the extensions 3 1a are to befmade of as many parts as will permit theV removal of'saideX- tensions. In other words there will be no way of lifting the top of the mold, should the cores be formed with integral extensions, instead of detachable extensions V31, hence the provision of the detachable extensions 31a. The top ofv thel mold is also provided with enlargements'B conforming 'to the shape of 'the shock absorbing blocks, whenV any suitable mane u -far enough so that the'jtie-'will pass* the the top is arrangedin place, and the molten-1 abric in" sufficient quantities to hold't-hefv glass in place, the glas'sallowed to cooland A be tempered, the enlargements 33 will form thev depressions 4.1. ,Y Obviously when. the topf of the mold is removed and the body of the mold likewise removed, al suitable glass cross glass poured into'thevmold, with'the"wirev tie or sleeper inaylbe constructed, the open;

ings or passa-ges 7fhavilng been formed'by the cores 32.' The sheet metal mold or shell may be bent, rolled or otherwise constructed in shape, and corrugated as shown, in order j i tov form the outer surfaces ofthe tiejso that the sides of the mold lare corrugated llongitudinally. The sides'and ends oflthefmoldff or'svhell are-capable of beingfbent to openf theshell. 1' The sides and ends maybe moved lowerl parts of the corru ations of thesides of the shell, when the siellis inverted, to discharge the crossv tie.

When Vmolding a cross` tie molclfisl placed in position, the sides y andl ends arranged' as' shown, after which `the of|- glass, ,the

positions, in order to extract .the tieyfrom'vsheet metal reinjl'orcin,f g;l with its-reinforcing fabric reinforcing aresupported infany suit-. able ymanner v(not f shown), 1n order to be incased for embeddedin the glass tie. TheV -sleeves or tubes, 'together with the wireY 'l molten glass, heated to avery high tempera-f ture, isv then-'poured through the openings 28a ofthe top, the 'saine flowing into themold aroundfthe sheet metal reinforcing, through the openingst?) and ,through-the openings'of the wireinesh Ior screen, therei by lncaslng or embedding such reinforcing?4 partsvin the glass. Thewtie is allowed'to set, cool, 'and' 'may be properly tempered" and: treated according'to` known science, and isj then readyfor use for forming arsleeper for the rails ofa railroad. A; sleeper ortie of this character is particularly'adaptedas an' insulator of electricity. In order to remove a rail, or to-remove a tie,lthe nuts' 17 may'l be "detached, by rstgremoving the 'cotter pins, lifting. the plates 14 from the anchors, then the'tie may be'slid Vfrom under the rail,

`the rail being kpartly 'j aclred up.' If desired a wrench may be applied to the heads 13,"

vturning the anchors, so that'thelugslO 'may assume positions, which the'ylrstlassunied when inserting'the anchors, after' Ywhich the anchors maybe extracted.- "Or :thenuts 17 may be loosened, and the'p'lates'lt turned, which willallow the rails tobe lifted. The sheet metal'reinforcing trough is corrugated, in other wordsconstructedto conform to the shape ofthe'jmold, though it is obvious thatv the sheet metal f reinforcing, andalso 'the mold maybe otherwise shaped. The amountsV` of elasticityl and rigidityv of a .tie offthisy character'has been found `'very essential and i.

practical'for use on railways. Furthermorel to not only assist in supporting thesheet meta-l reinforcing in place, but also to hold and reinforce the sides of the mold. It is obvious that more or less of such bolts may be used ,through others of the sleeves 2,V

though it is not absolutely necessary.

lln making the extensions Blfl in arplu rality of parts, as may be found necessar'TA thesections or parts may be joined by joints similar to 31. The Wire fabric which isV einbedded in the tie is so arranged as not to come inV contact with the metal fastenings for the rails, thereby avoiding short circuiting the current in electrical block signal systems, therebyT in this Way providing'an insulator. The glass acts to preserve the metal parts (which are encased in the tie) against rust, and also obviates Wear caused througl vibration.' In other Words should the metal be exposed to the weather, the corrosion of the metal, particularly the sheetmetal reinforcing, would tend to eat holes in the reinforcing', Which Would eventually lessen the strength and durabilityof the tie. A tie of the present character, wherein a glass body is used is of a non-decaying type, as Well as being lireproof.

The invention having been set forth, What is claimed as being useful is :v

l. In a device of the character and for the purpose indicated, the combination With a glass tie body having Wire fabric reinforcing, the greater portion of which being located near the bottom of the tie body, said tie body having openings or passages located -adjacentrtlie rail engaging parts of the tie,

for the reception of rail anchors.

2. In a device of the character and for the purpose indicated, the combination with a glass tie body having wire fabric reinforcL ing, the greater portion of which being located near the Vbottom of the tie body, said tie bodyhaving openings or passages located adjacent the rail engaging parts of the tie,

for the reception of rail anchors, said tieV body having transversely disposed sleeves,

which act to reinforce the glass tie body, and at the saine time constituting means to prevent the pulling in of the sides of a inoldV or shell, during the construction of the body. 3. In a device of the character and for 4thelpurpose indicated, the combination with a glass tie body having Wire fabric rein forcing, the greater portion of which being located near the bottom of the tie body, said tie body having openings or passages located adjacent the rail engaging parts of. the tie, for the reception of rail anchors, said tie body having depressions suitably spaced ac cording to the spacing lof rails, the Walls of the depressions being Vshaped, and shockabsorbing blocks correspondingly formed and engaged in said depressions.

4. In a device of the character forA the purpose indicated, a glass tie body provided ivith Wire fabric reinforcing therein, said tie body having depressions on its'upper surface adjacent the ends of the vtie body, shock absorbing members treated With'creosote corresponding to and engaged in. said depressions, said tie body having openings adjacent said depressions, rail anchors mounted in said openings and being operatively connected -to lrails whichl are, adapted to be mounted on thek shock absorbing inembers, means for connecting the llower ends of the anchors in said openings, said anchors having grooves, andv elements Vfrictionally engaged in the openings and engaged ivith the groovesl of the anchors, for forcing the f anchors into position and preventing disenf gagement of the anchor securing means.V Y Y 5. In a device of the character and for the purpose indicated, a glass ticv body, a reinforcing therein, the upper surface of theY the purpose indicated, a glass tie body provided on its upper' surface at spaced railV positions with shock absorbing blocks, said body having vertical openings-or passages,

anchors engagingsaid passages and'provid-v ed with locking ineans at'their lower ends to assist iii holding the anchors in place, plates engaged with the anchors and overlying the rails ivliich seat upon the shock absorbing i members, keys mounted in said passages or openings and engaging theA anchors to hold them in position, said plates overlying the" in said openings and engaging said grooves to Wedge the anchors to one side of the open- 1 ,fior/,195

in the openings and having grooves, meansV conforming to and engaging the openings and the groovesof the anchors, forholding the anchorsI in one side of the openings, rail retaining plates on the anchors, and means carried by the anchors for holding the plates in position. l

9. The combination wit-li a tie bodyhaving rail seats and provided with openings on opposite sides of the rail, rail plateanchoring members connected to the lower ends of said openings, wedge keys in Said openings and engaged with the anchors to vprevent them from turning and toA wedge them to corresponding sides ofthe openings, and rail plates retained on the anchors for holding the rails in position, said wedge keys having enlargements at their upper ends,`so as to be engaged by the hand lof the mechanic, for extracting the wedge keys from the openings, the upper ends of the .anchors having rectangular heads, to be engaged by Wrench, for rotating the anchors.

10. In a device of the character and for the purpose indicated, a mold, af sleeve engaged between the sides of the mold, means passing through the sides of the mold and through the sleeve, to rigidly reinforce the sides of the mold, the top of the mold having cores for forming depressions in the top of a f glass tie being constructed by the mold.

11. In a device of the character and for the purpose indicated, a mold, a sleeve en-v gaged between the sides of the mold, means passing through the sides of the mold and v through the sleeve, to rigidly reinforce the sides of the mold, the top of the mold having i cores for forming depressions in the top of a glass tie being constructed by the mold, the top of thev mold having cores for forming opelnings in a tie, to be constructed by the mo d.

12. In a device of the character and for.

ing, the greater portion of which being located near the bottom of the tie body, a sheet metal reinforcing embedded in said body, and means for attaching rail anchors to the tie for holding the rails in position, said sheet metal reinforming. having a plurality of openings, thorugh which the molten with a tie having ,rail

Amaterial flows, so as to thoroughly incase orembe'd the'reinforcing in position. .f f

the purpose indicated, the combination' with a. glass tie body having wire fabric reinforcing, thc greater portion of'ivhich being lov-` lcated near the bottom of the tie body,wa

11'.vr In a deviceA of the character and 'for sheet metal reinforcingl embedded; in; said i,

body, andmeans for attaching rail anchors to the tie foiyholding the rails iniposition, said sheet metal reinforcing having a lplu'- rality of openings,- through:ii-fhich the molten i material flo-ws, seas to thoroughlyi incase orl embed the, reinforcing-in position, and

means'extending transversely of the vtiefbody.

and connecting opposite portions ofthe sheet metal reinforcing, to holdV the parts'inposr, l tion and strengthen the tie, and yet at the saine time permit of elasticity.

15. In a device of the character and for the purpose indicated, thecombination with a glass tie'body having wire fabric reinforcn ing, a sheet metalv reinforcing embedded in Vsaid tiebody and having openings in oppol-` site parts of lthe sheet metal reinforcing, to permit of the flow of molten glass about the sheet metal reinforcing, in order to form the tie., f

16. In a `device of the characterl and for the purpose indicated, the combination with a glass tie body having wire fabric reinfore ing, a sheet metal reinforcing embeddedrv vin said tie body and having openings 1n opposite parts of the sheet metal reinforcing to permit ofthe rflowof molteny glass about ico the sheet metal reinforcing, in order to form the tie, and means connecting the opposite sides ofthe sheet metal reinforcing tofhold the sides in position,and to strengthenl the tie as well as insuring elasticity.

the purpose indicated, the combination with a glass tie body having wire fabric reinforcing, a sheet metal reinforcin'gembedded in said tie Vbody and having openings 1n opposite parts of the sheet metal reinforcing, to

permit of the flow .of molten glass about the through the sleeve, tok rigidly reinforce .theV

. v 17. In a device of the character and for sides of the mold, the top of the mold having cores for forming depressions in the top of al glass tie being constructed by the mold, and means connecting the oposite sides of the mold and passing through the tie, to assist iso in supporting the reinforcing parte of the tie 1n positionV While being; iormed.

19. In a device of the character and for the ,purpose indicated, the combination with :L

VWhile the tie body is beingmolded.

20. In a, device of the ohaizioterzud for the purpose indicated, the combination with a glass tie body-having a sheet metal reinforcing, tubular members connecting the op posite parte of the sheet metal einfinei'ng` io hold Jche same in shape While the tie body is being molded, one of seid tubular members adapted to receive a supporting member o1 a mold, t0 support the reinforcing- '.in position, While the tie body is being molded.` said sheet metal reinforcing` having openings to perinilJ of the flow of molten materiel, when embedding' the reinforcing in the tie body.

' In testimony whereof I hereunto aiix my signature.

. Pri'inier J. Dione?, 

